Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for cerebral infarction

Doctors know acute cerebrovascular disease as “stroke”. It has two types: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Cerebral infarction is a typical ischemic stroke. Patients may have symptoms like crooked mouth corners and limited limb movement. If not treated in time, sequelae are often left, affecting the quality of life.

 Currently, patients with cerebral infarction can use:  

Thrombolytic therapy   

Intravascular thrombectomy therapy  

Drug therapy    

Rehabilitation therapy   

Also, there is another treatment for cerebral infarction: hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

A hyperbaric chamber involves inhaling high partial-pressure oxygen under high pressure. One standard atmosphere is the air pressure at sea level. It is under standard conditions at 0°C. The higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure. It increases below sea level.

The Hyperbaric Society's rules say hyperbaric oxygen therapy must exceed 1.4 atm. The treatment pressure is 1.5 to 3.0 atmospheres. A common level is 2.0 atmospheres, which is the same as being 10 meters underwater. Each treatment lasts 60 to 120 minutes. It involves increasing pressure, stabilizing oxygen inhalation, and reducing pressure.

Why do we need hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Under normal circumstances, there is a large number of red blood cells in the blood. Hemoglobin in red blood cells combines with oxygen. It then transports it to the whole body. The amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood is very small. Like in a "river" of blood, most hyperbaric chamber near me rides on the “ship” of hemoglobin to drift far away. Only a small part of the oxygen "swims" in the blood and goes to the ends of the blood vessels.

A cerebral infarction occurs when blood vessels block or narrow significantly. Hemoglobin can't pass through, and very little oxygen can. The brain tissue cells supplied by these blood vessels cannot get enough oxygen.

Symptoms will include a crooked mouth, shaky limbs, and speech issues. Now, the most effective measure is to quickly restore blood flow. Thrombolysis or thrombectomy can reopen blocked blood vessels.

 It can significantly enhance the patient's symptoms. But, due to the limitation of the time window, only a small number of patients enjoy it. Most patients can only receive drug treatment and rehabilitation treatment. Now, patients can also use hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

As the pressure rises, more oxygen dissolves in the liquid. That is, the hyperbaric oxygen therapy cost “swimming” in the blood increases greatly. In a high-pressure environment, this is more obvious after the patient breathes oxygen.

So, a home hyperbaric chamber is supplied to tissue cells, especially hypoxic ones, to improve hypoxia and aid recovery. This is the most basic principle of hyperbaric oxygen treatment for cerebral infarction.

Also, during a cerebral infarction, blood vessels are edematous. hyperbaric oxygen therapy benefits cannot penetrate the thick vessel walls to reach the surrounding cells.

 If deprived of oxygen, these cells will die. They will then lose control of the corresponding facial and limb movements. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the blood oxygen diffusion rate and distance. In layman's terms, oxygen can quickly penetrate the thick blood vessel walls and improve hypoxia.

 Capillaries are relatively thin, and red blood cells generally pass through in a queue. The edema compresses and deforms the capillaries, thinning their lumen. This hinders the passage of red blood cells. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has two effects on red blood cells. Their ability to deform increases. They can then pass through the compressed, thinned capillaries. If they cannot pass, the liquid part of the blood can.   

So, dissolved oxygen can reach the hypoxic tissues.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help form new blood vessels. It can also establish collateral circulation around blocked blood vessels. Oxygen diffuses in all directions along the blood vessels, like tree branches.

So, the improvement of hypoxia is three-dimensional and all-around. Improved hypoxia preserves brain cell function. It can greatly help with crooked mouth, limb issues, and speech problems.

What should be noted before hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment?

First, the problem of contraindications of oxyair hyperbaric chambers. If the patient has untreated tension pneumothorax or pneumocephalus, hyperbaric oxygen treatment must not be performed.

Let’s take tension pneumothorax as an example to explain the reason. There is a closed cavity formed by two layers of membrane outside the lung, called the pleural cavity, with only a small amount of liquid inside to act as a lubricant.

If the pleura on the side close to the lung ruptures and forms a one-way valve toward the pleural cavity, gas enters the pleural cavity with each inhalation, and the gas cannot come out during breathing, then the gas accumulation increases, which will compress the lungs and mediastinum, affect respiratory circulation, and even be fatal. Even if a portable hyperbaric chamber price is not used, this kind of injury requires emergency treatment.

If the patient has a cold, nasal congestion, fever, otitis media, epilepsy, etc., hyperbaric oxygen treatment may cause physical discomfort, and it is necessary to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. For example, if a patient is in a coma due to carbon monoxide poisoning, but has a cold, then the benefits of hyperbaric chamber portable outweigh the disadvantages.

Even if side effects such as middle ear barotrauma and ruptured tympanic membrane bleeding may occur, portable hbot should be used, otherwise, the patient may be in a coma for a long time, develop serious complications, or even die.

Second, before treatment, please listen carefully to the precautions introduced by the doctor and keep them in mind. Pressure changes will affect the volume and temperature of the gas.

When the pressure is increased, the volume of the gas will decrease and the temperature will increase, while the opposite will happen when the pressure is reduced. The middle ear and sinuses are both cavities containing air, so when the pressure is increased, you can pinch your nose to blow air, swallow, and open your mouth to adjust the pressure in time to avoid ear discomfort caused by tympanic membrane collapse.

When decompressing, you need to keep warm. When inhaling oxygen at a stable pressure, please breathe calmly.